The Waystation Ch. 25 (Patreon)

Chapter 25

Detour. III

“I still think it would be easier just to run them all over.” Bell grumped.

“Any chance you want to tell me why you are terrified of rabbits?” Bert asked, for about the tenth time since they got back to the Waystation.

Bell ignored the comment entirely as she continued to pack food into five new leather backpacks. Bert had made them at Bud’s request.

“Okay, the kids have food and drink… knives… poisons… extra knives… …blood berries for healing… a couple of extra extra knives… I think that’s it.” She said worriedly. “I still think they should stay here.”

“They won’t be going into the dungeon, I promise.” Bert sighed. “They want to come along, so I told them they can guard the entrance.”

“What if a monster comes along?” Bell asked.

“If there were any monsters around, the village would know about it,” Bert said; they had already had this argument an hour ago.

“Those things are monsters!” Bell growled.

“Is that what the sign is for?” Bert asked.

“Yup.” Bell smiled. “I am just being careful.” She sniffed. “Since someone got all ‘no, don’t run over the village’ all of a sudden.”

“We only did that once; it’s not an actual habit or anything,” Bert said defensively.

They continued to bicker as they made their way down to the edge of the drawbridge. Handing off the packs to the orcs, Bert turned and looked up at the new sign painted above the drawbridge…

NO RABBITS!

All Rabbits will be killed on sight!

A series of highly graphic sketches of rabbits being skinned and hung were under the sign.

Bert watched Bell fidget and worry…

It was time for the surprise…

Bert walked back into the Waystation and went into his rooms in the Barn. On the small crafting table in the corner was a small crystal surrounded by straps and fine belts. It had taken him hours of work and some meticulous testing.

Picking it up and connecting to it momentarily, he tested it one more time…

“What’s that?” Bell asked grumpily from the door.

“The Crystal Core I got from the Skyship,” Bert said. “It finally finished binding to the Waystation a couple of days ago.”

“Wow, so what's the plan?” Bell asked, forgetting her sour mood for a second.

“Well, have a look for yourself.” Bert held it out to her.

“What's with all the straps?” Bell asked, “Ewwww. If that is some kind of sex thing….”

“Fuck sake, Bell!” Bert growled, “It’s for you. So you can leave the Waystation Grounds.”

“Are you sure it’s not a sex thing?” Bell asked suspiciously, “Like that whole rope kink you have?”

“I do not have a rope kink!” Bert yelled. A noise made the two turn to a blushing Tru’nal, who was just about to knock on the door. She muttered something and fled.

Bell giggled as Bert flushed crimson.

“Fine!” Bert growled. “If you don’t want it-”

“No!” Bell snatched the thing out of his hand. “Mine.”

“You knew she was outside the door, didn’t you?” Bert asked suspiciously.

“Yeah.” Bell giggled.

“Fuck sake, Bell,” Bert growled as Bell delicately fastened the straps.

The crystal was now held securely on her back. She tested her wings, making sure they were still free to move.

“So, how does it work?” Bell asked.

“Push some mana into it to make the connection,” Bert said, watching the crystal begin to pulse in time with Bell’s mana tides. “And that is it, really.” He shrugged. “Just be careful about something snatching it off your back.”

“So If something takes this… I lose my connection to the Waystation?” She asked.

“Yes. It is a big flaw, but I don’t see any way around it.” Bert said.

“Of course not, silly.” She laughed as she shrugged the crystal off, “I swear you are just so dumb.” And with that, she merrily ripped the crystal free… and swallowed it.

Bert stared in horror. A large part of him was waiting for an explosion.

“Bell! What the actual FUCK was that?” He yelled when it looked like an explosion wasn’t coming.

“I’m part of the Waystation, dummy.” Bell rolled her eyes. “Honestly!”

“So fucking what?” Bert growled.

“I just absorbed the crystal. It is part of me now.” She laughed. “Oh, my Gods! Your face was priceless!”

“So you destroyed the fucking crystal for a joke?” Bert rubbed his temples. The pixie was giving him a headache.

“No, I’m not an idiot.” She giggled, “I now have all the abilities of the crystal as part of me. Kind of like getting an extra class.”

“Thank fuck.” Bert huffed. “I spent so long planning this….”

“Planning what?” Bell asked suspiciously.

“For you to be able to get out and see stuff.” Bert waved out the barn window. “You were trapped for so long; I just wanted to make sure you could explore like you wanted.”

Silence.

“Well, now I feel like a bitch for calling you stupid.” Bell looked briefly embarrassed. Very briefly. “Ah, well, you’ll get over it.” She giggled. “I’m coming with you to that dungeon.”

“No, Bell,” Bert said flatly. “Someone needs to stay here and protect the Waystation.”

“I mentioned the new abilities, remember?” She smiled as a duplicate Bell appeared next to her.

“What the fuck is that?” Bert groaned.

“It’s my… Multi-Bell,” She beamed hugely as her duplicate cheered.

“Fuck my life!” Bert muttered as the two Bells flew out, giggling together. “What the hell did I just do?”

=================

Mic’ali cringed as another tree went flying across the path. He turned uncertain eyes on his brother. Ric just shrugged and pulled his head in tighter behind his shield.

Another crashing sound sounded as the Caretaker, Bert, blocked a flying rock that had strayed too close to their little party.

“Fuck, sake, Bell!” He yelled after a fast-moving blur in the center of a path of destruction, “Mind the kids!”

“Sorry!” Bell giggled. “They need to learn to duck faster!” The blur came to a sudden stop. “Hey, should I train them like I did with you?” The look on her face was excitement merged with vicious glee. All the orcs froze in place.

“No! You are not doing that to kids!” Bert yelled back.

The Pixie shrugged and returned to being a blur in the center of a storm of destruction.

“It has not even been a week!” Ric’ali hissed in Gor’tal’s ear. “We are sworn for five years! At least!”

“We are all going to die,” Sal’ali muttered to him.

“We all knew the stories,” Tru’nal said. “Would you rather we were still with the goblins?”

The orcs watched as the giant sloth bear leaped into the air, swiping at entire trees thrown its way by the applauding pixie.

“Don’t worry so much,” Bud said. He had dismounted while Slothy was playing with Bell. “You can’t forget the motto Bert taught you… Never Say Die.”

Bud trotted ahead to catch up with Bert.

The group of young orcs watched them nervously.

“Gor?” Ric said slowly. “Just because we don’t say it… doesn’t mean it won’t happen.”

The five teen orcs looked at each other. Finally, Tru’nal shrugged.

“So we die. We could have died to Goblins; instead, we may die side by side with the Fae!”

“They are weird, aren’t they?” Ric asked.

“That’s nothing; wait till I tell you what I heard….” Tru’nal began to whisper.

“Everyone, put away your ropes,” Sal said as they stared at Bert.

Bert turned as they were doing so, seeing them and sighing.

Sal’ali protectively pulled her brothers behind her.

“Fuck sake, Bell!” He growled.

Only giggles and a flying tree answered him.

===============

Bert, Bell, Bud, and Slothy were gathered in front of a vast stone archway. Intricate carvings rendered unrecognizable by time decorated its sides.

It was just an arch, nothing more.

Inside the arch, they could see a stone entryway. Bert walked around the other side. It showed the same room on this side as well.

There was nothing connected to the arch. It was just a stone arch in the center of a small meadow.

“Some kind of portal?” Bert asked as he returned to the front with the others.

“No shit, really?” Bell giggled.

“So, we going in?” Bud asked.

Bert looked behind him, seeing the Bud Patrol setting up tents and building a fire pit. They would be fine. Bell must have scared away anything within miles of their path. She had undoubtedly scared the orcs. The poor kids winced and ducked every time she flew near them.

“Okay,” Bert said, “We go in. But! We go slow and carefully. If anything looks too dangerous, we turn and leave.” He looked at the others until they nodded. Bell gave in last with a roll of her eyes.

He led the way inside, stepping onto the smooth, cool stone as he summoned his shield.

You have Entered:

Temple of the Rabbit.

Good luck!

Bell gave a little shudder as she entered and got the same message. She glared down at Bert.

“Temple of the Rabbit!” She hissed.

“Well, it did turn everyone into rabbits… so?” He shrugged. “You can kill these, though.”

“Oh, I will.” She glared down again. “If one touches me… you die first.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Bert huffed.

Threats of murder were how Bell showed she cared.

Bert led the way into the first hallway, Slothy following with Bud and Bell on either side of her.

The hallway was clear of traps, and a corner brought them out into what appeared to be a large underground cavern. Glowing crystals in the ceiling lit it with a warm glow.

Soft green grass covered the floor of the cavern. It created a meadow spotted with flowers and large mushrooms with red and white caps. Butterflies flittered about with colorful wings as a fresh breeze blew the scent of pollen and cool water to the team.

Bert walked cautiously out onto the grass, testing each step. Thanks to a certain pixie, Bert constantly checked for pit traps. Once they were all clear of the door and into the meadow, a movement started as a few mushrooms pulled themselves out of the ground. Large, wide eyes opened on their stalks as they grew tiny arms ending in pudgy fingers. They bounced cutely towards Bert and the others, reaching out to them and making happy little cooing noises.

“Aww, they are so cute!” Bell said as she hovered behind Bert. “I wonder what they taste like?”

The first of the mushrooms got within a few feet of Bert and held its arms up like a child wanting a hug.

Now Bert was always a soft touch. Anything cute was always going to have an effect on him. But this was a dungeon…

He kicked it as hard as he could, sending it flying into the far wall. It burst on impact, sending bits of mushroom everywhere.

“Bert!” Bell yelled in outrage.

The other mushrooms shivered as their mouths seemed to elongate, sharp needle-like teeth being revealed as they scrunched down before launching themselves at Bert and the rest.

Bert blocked the first one with his shield, giving it a good kick as it dropped from away. As it burst against the far wall, two of Bud's arrows nailed another pair to the floor. Given their relatively squishy nature, Bert chose to change his hand into a hammer. He waded into the mushrooms, smashing the little creatures as they came into range. The grass was soon covered in the mashed and shredded remains of the mushrooms.

The team stilled, looking around once they ran out of mushrooms. The butterflies that had retreated to the ceiling as the mushroom carnage began slowly flew down, descending on the various pieces of mushroom and glowing slightly.

“I got a bad feeling, Boss.” Bud drew his bow and fired at the nearest Butterfly.

Everywhere around them, new mushrooms sprouted wherever the butterflies landed. As the delicate creatures fluttered here and there, the numbers slowly grew out of control.

“Bell, Bud, get those damn butterflies. Slothy, go wild!” Bert yelled as he swung to and fro with his hammer. The numbers just kept growing as the Butterflies slowly thinned out. By the time the last of the little creatures fell out of the air, there was a veritable tidal wave of mushrooms bearing down on them.

Bert and Slothy went to work, slamming into the tide of mushrooms. He activated Reclaim Flesh as the damage began to stack. He was soon buried in the press of mushrooms. He charged the Chill rune on his hammer, shield, and feet. Crouching down and pulsing his mana in time, with the surge tide, let the ice begin to spread. Bert was in a dome of frozen mushrooms in no time. Smashing the front of the dome with his hammer left him a single area to defend. Bert fought his way out as his companions closed in.

The flood of mushrooms eventually ran out. As the last ones fell, Bert called a moment's rest. He summoned a small barrel of water for Slothy as the rest drank from their canteens. Well, except for Bell, who had a flagon of some sort.

“That better not be that Death Mead again,” Bert warned.

“Of course not!” Bell looked insulted. “This is a bloodberry wine.”

“You don’t drink wine from a flagon,” Bert said drily.

“Well, you should.” Bell belched hugely and smashed the empty flagon against the wall. “It’s fucking great.” A bloody smile lit up her face.

Once everyone was ready, they moved to the far side of the cavern, finding another short tunnel. It was again trap free.

They came to a second cavern. It was almost identical to the first except for the smaller mushrooms being replaced with a single enormous mushroom in the cavern's center. The massive cap was over halfway to the ceiling and covered nearly a third of the open space.

Bert eyed it warily.

“Okay, let’s be-” He cut off as Bell’s Ringer blazed across the cavern, burying itself in the stalk of the giant mushroom and blasting out the other side.

“Woooooo!” Bell cheered as she summoned the Ringer back, sending it flying back into her hand as a great shudder passed through the floor.

The giant mushroom grew two sets of arms as enormous eyes opened on the stalk. A massive slit up the center of the stalk tore open, showing large sharp teeth on each side.

A tired yawn sounded behind Bert as it pushed itself free of the ground and roared at the team through its vertical mouth.

“Mushrooms, again?” Bell said. “I’m bored of mushrooms. Can we just skip it?”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Bert said.

Slothy answered the roar with one of her own. The mushroom faltered as the Giant Sloth Bear reared back on its hind legs and roared again. She looked pissed.

“Uh, I don’t think it should have challenged Slothy,” Bud said as a red glow surrounded the furious creature. Slothy took a step forward as the glow brightened. Then another. In a second, she charged the now terrified Mushroom.

“Everyone, support Slothy!” Bert yelled as he sprinted to catch up with the charging bear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bud start charging a powerful shot as Bell cheered the Giant Sloth Bear on.

Slothy hit the mushroom like a freight train. The arms pushed at her, trying to keep her at bay as she tore into the flesh of the stalk, giant chunks flying off.

The mouth clamped down on Slothy’s foreleg, teeth digging in slightly to the thick fur and thicker skin. A small flow of blood dripped around the wound.

Bert channeled Reclaim Flesh again. The chunks of stalk flesh flowed into Slothy and repaired any wounds as they formed.

If Slothy had been pissed before… she went berserk as the mushroom bit down on her. The sloth bear froze briefly, her eyes locking onto the boss monster’s. A rumbling from her chest grew into a terrifying snarl.

The Mushroom Boss tried to open its mouth carefully, but it was too little, too late.

Slothy slammed a giant paw into it, holding it down as the other tore into the eyes, scooping them out and tearing through the flesh beneath.

A minute later and it was over. Slothy placed her front feet on the corpse and roared, loud and long.

For a second, Bert saw the Giant Sloth Bear as others must. A terrifying predator the size of a truck with claws as long as swords on each hand. Her fangs were spears waiting to tear apart her prey.

He smiled as she lowered her head and huffed. Just like that, she was just Slothy again, their little - okay, not so little - furbaby. Bert gave her skritches behind the ears as everyone told her how well she had done.

After harvesting as much of the giant mushroom as they thought would be useful, they moved on. Bert again took the lead as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. Bert was initially surprised. After all, dungeons mean going down… he supposed he had just played too many games.

He peaked over the top of the last step, seeing a familiar-looking open cavern and meadow beyond.

The problem was what was in the meadow…

“Bell, you may want to stay back,” Bert whispered to the rest of the team. Bell held up a finger as she drained another tankard of bloodberry wine.

“I ain’t gonna hide from a bunch of….” She said as she flew up. Her voice trailed off as she saw the field full of fluffy rabbits.

“Bell, it’s okay. I’m here.” Bert whispered up to the trembling pixie. “You’re fine. Everything is going to be-”

“I know.” Bell began to glow red. She turned to look down at him. Fires burned in her eyes. “I’m not a child anymore… and I am not alone.” Her eyes turned back to the field.

“Okay, we can pull them here in waves-” Bert began to tell the others. A faint ting sounded.

“DIIIIIEEEEEEEE!” Bell screamed at the top of her lungs.

Bert spun back in time to see her shoot forward, knives flying from her pouch as she moved.

He waved the others to the floor and charged after her.

Bell moved like a comet across the cavern, knives flashing and dancing around her. It was like watching a flying woodchipper. A trail of pinkish mist and raining gore followed in her wake.

“I think she had this one, Boss,” Bud said quietly.

“Yup,” Bert nodded slowly.

“She’s kind of scary, isn’t she?” Bud said as they watched Bell herd the last survivors into a corner of the cavern and slowly grind them into a paste.

“Yup,” Bert said again.

“Glad I’m not a bunny,” Bud said.

“Me too, Bud.” Bert sighed, “Me too.”

Once Bell had finished going full blender on the meadow, a cluster of butterflies drifted lazily down from the ceiling. They had apparently been hiding amongst the lights. Bud drew his bow but could not get a shot off before a storm of knives obliterated the little resurrection machines.

“Feel better?” Bert asked a panting Bell as she hovered proudly in the center of the former meadow.

“Much, thanks.” She beamed. “Shall we go?”

The team moved through another corridor. It was again trap-free, but he always checked. Bell complained that they couldn’t fly like proper Fae the entire time.

Bert was about to tell her off when they saw the next boss. The words died on his lips.

“That’s one big bunny.” He said in exasperation.

“No!” Bell said as she hid in the corridor. “No. No. No. Just all the No.”

The Rabbit Boss was enormous. Its ears brushed against the ceiling of the cave.

“I thought it would be thinner?” Bud asked.

“Yeah, me too,” Bert said.

It was not just large; it was… wide. A massive belly had forced its legs aside as it lay against the far wall. As the group stared at the corpulent animal, they heard a pop. Two muscled rabbits, eight feet tall, appeared in the cavern. Before the animals could move, the giant bunny reached out and grabbed them. He stuffed them both in his mouth and chewed happily.

“That’s fucked up,” Bert said.

“Now we know how it got so fat,” Bud shrugged.

“Let’s get this done,” Bert said as he changed his hand into a crossbow and charged in, spraying the vast animal with Heat and Chill-runed bolts.

It was not even a fight. The creature was too large to get up, unable to reach them or offer any real defense. Bud and Bert simply stood back and peppered it with shots until it died.

The worst part was cutting their way through a leg to reach the stairs on the other side.

Bert carried Bell through the room as she refused to even look at the thing.

“This place is weird, right?” Bud asked carefully. “It's not just me?”

“No loot, cute creatures, simple layout… it seems pretty weird to me.” Bert agreed. “Bell, is this place normal for dungeons in this world?”

“Nope, we haven’t gotten a single trap or bit of loot anywhere.” Bell shrugged and then gestured. She paused and tried again… “We have to go back!” She yelled.

“What’s wrong?” Bert asked, scanning the corridor as they all backed up.

“I’m out of Bloodberry Wine!” She wailed.

“Oh, good.” Bert grinned. “On we go.”

“Rude!” Bell spluttered behind him.

Bert was still chucking as they got to the top of the stairs. The meadow was there again. This time there was a cluster of little houses. They were arranged around the walls. Each one looked like a gingerbread cottage. Bert tensed.

Witches?

A door opened, and a squirrel walked out of the house. It sported a monocle and a waistcoat. It was striped.

The three-foot-tall creature regarded them carefully for a moment before it called out. “I say, you there, shoo!” It waved a dismissive hand at them. “Shoo!”

Bert and the others looked at each other in surprise.

“We are just passing through,” Bert called back and pointed across the meadow to the opposite wall and the hall that waited there.

“No, no.” The creature shook its head in irritation. “No commoners on the grass!” He looked aghast, “Begone now! Shoo! Shoo, I say.”

“What was that about commoners?” Bert asked mildly as his hand shifted into an axe.

“Oh, shit,” Bud said as he stepped back.

“No common folk in the meadow of the Noble Squirrels!” The little creature said proudly. “I say, stay back.”

Bert’s axe buried itself in the thing’s skull.

Squirrels erupted from every house; fireballs flew at Bert from every one of them.

“Fucking magic squirrels!” Bert stomped forward as he pushed Mana into his shield. The blue mana shield popped up and caught most of the fireballs. Bert rolled aside, dodging the others as his team charged behind him.

The squirrels put up a valiant defense as they fought. They even formed firing lines which concentrated their firepower by a lot. Bert’s mana shield was popped repeatedly as he and Bud fired back.

Bell fired knives to and fro as the squirrels were forced back into one of the houses. Once inside the house, they called out, demanding peace talks.

Slothy crushed the house, with them inside as Bell giggled.

The final room on the third floor was decked out in plain stone. There was no meadow this time. Instead, there was a stone throne with steps leading up to it. Two large, muscled rabbits stood at the foot of the stairs, each with a club shaped like a carrot. A tall, thin squirrel took up the Throne with a crown that sat haphazardly on its head. It clutched a rude wooden staff in its hands.

“Welcome, guests!” The King’s voice was rich and welcoming. “Bask in my presence, if you wish” A self-satisfied smile spread over its face. “I am afraid my throne room is a little bare, and some of my subjects seem to be missing. I am sure they are fetching it back as we speak.”

“Uh huh,” Bert said as he looked around. “Is there more of you or… is this it?” He asked casually.

“Do not mistake me, commoner.” The king drew himself up to his full height. “I am not to be trifled with. If you wish to rob me, you will regret it.”

“Rob you,” Bell chuckled. “Of what?”

“Silence!” The king squeaked. “You will show respect!”

“No, we fucking won’t,” Bell said, her eyes narrowing. “You will get off your little stone chair and fuck off!”

“Guards! Guards!” The king jumped up and down, “Kill this rabble. Immediately!”

Bert saw the guards start to move. He shield charged the left one while Bud charged a shot, and Slothy roared.

He slammed into the muscled bunny and groaned. “Fucking hell, that hurt.” The guard looked down at him and sneered.

Bert kicked it in the balls and slammed his shield into its head as it doubled over. The other guard heaved back its giant club only to vanish a second later as Slothy’s paw sent it flying. Slothy charged after the guard as Bert blocked a swing from his now furious opponent. His shield rang with the blow as he began to shine gently. He hacked beneath the shield, cutting the toes off the guard. As it squealed, he kicked the knee joint, feeling it crack. Bert rolled aside as the powerful legs kicked at him, coming up into an overhead chop as he blasted mana through his shield.

Arrows flew past him as Bud kept the King pinned down. The pompous squirrel kept trying to cast, but besides a few fireballs, he could do little to help his guards.

Finally finishing his guard off, Bert saw Slothy shaking the dead body of the other. Bud kept a withering fire on the king as Bert looked around, wondering where Bell had gone.

A second later, the king froze, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He fell forward, and a truly ridiculous number of knives sprouted from his back. Bell emerged from a shadow at the back of the room, grinning broadly.

“He never even heard me summoning them all!” She giggled. “I’ve never stabbed someone with fifty knives at the same time before. Can I do it again?” She asked hopefully.

“I don’t think there is anyone left,” Bert chuckled as a grinding noise marked the opening of a final set of stairs.

Once the team made it up the stairs, they found an empty room with a single stone plinth in the center. A glowing white crystal ball sat on it.

Bert could feel the waves of mana moving to and from it. It was the same pattern he had noticed on the crystal core he had given to Bell.

He approached carefully, finding the room riddled with traps. He disarmed and scavenged them all as he went. Once he was sure it was safe, he approached the orb.

“Leave me alone!” an annoyed voice called out. “You pricks killed all my lovely creatures; now you want to steal me? No! I will not stand for it!”

“Umm, what?” Bert hesitated. “Who are you?”

“I… I… Never mind who I am. Get out of here!” the voice got shrill as a note of panic entered it.

“Please, she does not remember who she was,” A soft voice called. Bert looked around to find a small figure floating in the room's far corner. It wore a flowing white dress with golden hair shining like gold. “It is part of the process that binds these poor souls into the dungeon orb.” She said sadly. “I can sense the power of a Waystation on you. Are you the Caretaker of one?” It asked softly but with a sense of hope.

“Yup.” Bert nodded. “So, how do we get her out of there? We need to shut down this dungeon to release some townspeople from its power.”

“It is a simple matter.” The creature Bert suspected was a fairy nodded helpfully. “Simply take the orb from the pedestal, and the dungeon will be in your control. You will be able to release the people of that poor village and the poor soul in the orb as well.”

“Oh, nice.” Bert reached for the orb.

“One second, please,” The creature spoke again. “If you take the orb, I, too, will be released. Unless you chose to keep me,” She smiled sweetly and tucked some hair behind her ear. “I know I could be helpful.” She fluttered her eyelashes as she flew closer. “I could take over the Waystation from its current spirit….” She licked her lips.

“Hah! Good luck with that,” Bert laughed. “She’d crush you like a bug. And I am not replacing my Bell with anyone, thanks.” He reached again.

“Wait! I can be a better assistant! I promise.” She trilled. “I can do things she can not or will not. I can not just make your life easier but warm your bed as well.” She blushed. “With the power of a Waystation, I could be of a suitable size.”

“No, thanks!” Bert chuckled. “I’m good.”

“I’ll do anythin-” The fairy's voice cut off as Bell’s Ringer smashed into her. She enlarged it, sending the hammer and fairy into the far wall. As she pulled the hammer free, there was nothing but a smear of pink left and a single butterfly wing drifting slowly to the floor.

“See?” Bell grinned. “All fairies are freaky little sluts! Just like I said!”

Bert chuckled and grabbed the orb.

Dungeon Orb Claimed!

Would you like to take control of the dungeon?

y/n?

Bert chose yes.

Core Spirit Detected!

Release?

Definite yes.

Destroy Dungeon?

Or Rebuild?

Bert left the option pending as they left the dungeon. Once they were all outside, he chose Destroy.

Destroying Dungeon…

Creatures released…

Items Despawned…

Tether removed….

Destroyed…

The archway crumbled to the floor.

After they collected the orcs, they headed back toward the Waystation. When they arrived, they found a small group of people waiting nervously for them. They were not at the Waystation itself but nearby.

Bert identified them and found the classes matched the former rabbit people. Mayor, Doctor, and a few others.

They were, surprisingly, not there to thank Bert and his crew. They were there to complain. It seemed the treasure had all disappeared when they turned back into humans. Bell had laughed long and hard at that.

As the angry townspeople stomped back toward their village, Bert escorted his people back on board.

The Multi-Bell welcomed them back on board as they got to the drawbridge. The real Bell waved her hand, dismissing the other and taking a deep breath.

As Bud and Slothy headed off to get some sleep, she turned to Bert.

“You could have accepted that fairy as a replacement for me….” She said softly.

“I don’t replace my friends, Bell, or my family.” He smiled at her. “As far as I am concerned, your family.”

“Thanks,” She beamed. “I thought she might get you with that whole warm your bed bit.”

“Naah, I’m a married man, remember.” He grinned.

“Just as long as you know, I WILL NOT HAVE SEX WITH YOU.” She said the last bit loudly, just as the orcs filed past.

“Fuck sake, Bell!” Bert growled as she flew off, giggling.

“She was joking!” Bert said to Sal’ali, who was giving him a dirty look.

“Uh huh,” She said and hurried the others along.

“Bell!” Bert growled.

A faint laugh carried on the wind caught his ear… just for a second; he thought it sounded like Gwen.